NSW Biosciences Fund 2025

Instructions

Please read the BioSF Guidelines before completing this application.

This Preliminary Application form must be:

1. completed in full and within the word limit
2. authorised by the project lead or representative of the applicant’s organisation; and
3. submitted electronically through SmartyGrants. Forms submitted by any other means will not be accepted.

Please provide concise and succinct responses.

You must attach the following documents to your application:

1. 2 minute video explaining/demonstrating the scientific and technological basis for the product, how it works, its intended outcome/benefit, and how the BioSF funding will be used to drive commercialisation.
2. One-page project plan (preferably in a Gantt chart format) with the project timeline starting in February 2026, with project activities, tasks/milestones and their respective TRL, project costs that relate to expected outcomes.
3. Document that includes the following: Capitalisation Table (ownership) and Management Structure
4. 2023/24 certified or audited financial statements including Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet (Mandatory for all applications except individuals, new companies or spinouts (that were formed this FY))
5. 2024/25 year to date management accounts including Profit & Loss Statement and Balance Sheet (For individuals, new companies or spinouts that do not have a year to date management account, please upload the following instead: information about your new company/spinout process, how you are currently funding your project, including details on project and business expenses (wages, rent etc.))

You may attach the following documents to your application:

1. Supplementary evidence to video in the form of photos, diagrams etc.

Introduction

The Biosciences Fund (BioSF) is a $3.5 million, competitive biological sciences (biotechnology and life sciences) commercialisation program funded by the NSW Government. It is administered by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) within the NSW Premier’s Department (the Department).

The BioSF began in 2023 as a biennial program to meet the needs of diverse industries and firms with potential to commercialise innovations aligned with the NSW 20-Year R&D Roadmap priority industries or technologies.

The objectives of the BioSF are to:

• improve commercialisation opportunities for NSW-based start-ups and businesses
• provide financial support to progress the development of new and innovative devices and systems across the branches of the biological sciences (biotechnology and life sciences), including biomanufacturing, genetic engineering, synthetic biology and agrifood
• realise benefits from innovation in NSW.

The NSW Government recognises the importance of capturing potential commercial applications of NSW research. The BioSF addresses gaps in the product life cycle between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities, to target market failures preventing NSW businesses from capitalising on innovation. This program delivers grants to drive the commercialisation of highly innovative ideas into new products, processes or services.

Grant funding under the BioSF will be provided for projects ranging between $200,000 to $2 million.

Closing date

The closing date for Preliminary Applications is 1PM AEST, 30 APRIL 2025.

Looking for assistance in applying?

At NSW Premier’s Department, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage people with disability to apply. If you are a person with disability and require more information on adjustments and assistance to apply, please contact us at grants@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au. Assistance in completing this application can be found at Communities and Justice, People with Disability Australia or Legal Aid.

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, check out Aboriginal Affairs or your country’s Aboriginal Corporation to get assistance in the preparations of applications and grant program processes.